Last updated 19:33, Thursday, 06 November 2008

ASPATRIA turned in their worst performance of the season when they went down 36-11 at home to Gateshead in North Two East.

BANNED: David Bowe

The Black Reds were on the wrong end of a six-try mauling, yet prior to the game they had fancied the task ahead, against a team who had previously only recorded a single victory from six league matches.

The Black Reds were caught cold from the kick-off with the large Gateshead pack showing an unexpected mean streak.

Within seven minutes the visitors were camped on the Aspatria line and rolled over the line for a converted try.

Aspatria fought back and Mike Scott kept them in the hunt with a well-taken penalty. The home side were the authors of Gateshead’s second try when an over complicated backs move went wrong, allowing the visitors to travel the length of the pitch to register a second converted try.

Again, Scott responded with a penalty to keep home supporters’ hopes alive.

Unfortunately, from this midway point of the first half, Gateshead would dominate the rest of the game.

The half ended with the home side down 14-6, but this was an unrealistic reflection of the game as by this time the visitors had missed three kickable penalties and had the home side’s scrum under severe pressure.

The second half was a nightmare for the Black Reds. Straight from the kick-off the visitors were on the attack and should have gone further ahead but conspired to drop the ball when over the home team’s line.

This respite was short lived and four minutes into the half they made amends with their third try which went unconverted.

Within minutes of the restart the lead was further extended by a long-range effort and at 24-6 the contest was over.

The visiting pack had total control of the set-piece scrum and were able to feed a pacey back line with good ball.

Aspatria’s pain was increased on 56 minutes when the visitors’ lively scrum-half added another converted try.

The home team responded and did have some possession as the game proceeded but simply could not break down a solid defence, now playing with the knowledge that the game was won.

On 65 minutes the visitors scored their final try, again another slick effort from the backs. This was converted to take the score out to 36-6.

The home team did have the consolation of crossing the visitors’ line with minutes to play to put some respectability on the score line.

After good work by scrum half Heini Jonker, it was number eight Gary Hodgson who had the honour of an easy touch down.

The coaching team of Mike Scott and Adrian Bateson will be worried men following this collapse against one of the lesser sides in the league.

Workington produced their best performance of the season to beat Keswick at the Ellis Sports Ground.

The Zebras maintained their top four slot in the North Lancs Cumbria League with a 44-19 win which stemmed from their powerful pack of forwards who created the platform for victory.

Number eight David Bowe was named man of the match after a powerful display, but it was the control and support play of the other forwards which really caught the eye.

Keswick had made a bright start and Jamie McKenzie was close to giving them a flying start but he couldn’t hold on to a pass near the line.

Instead it was Workington who opened the scoring on 12 minutes from a push-over try by Bowe. Four minutes later they crossed again through Chris Herbert and Kevin Harper added the conversion.

Teenage winger Hodgson had to force his way past the Keswick cover to grab the third try in the corner on 32 minutes.

Trailing 17-0 Keswick came back well and scored the first of three excellent tries when Mark Ireland fed off a superb break by John Hine to get the touchdown. Ireland converted himself.

But Zebras quickly responded and right on half-time Hodgson again showed great courage and determination to make the corner under pressure from a cluster of defenders.

Keswick started the second half well and within four minutes had scored a second try.

Graham Marshall did well with a kick down the line which he pursued and after putting the Workington defender under pressure regained possession. The ball was switched quickly and Matty Roper went over for a try. Ireland’s conversion attempt came back off the post.

But as happened on each of the three occasions that Keswick scored, Workington hit back immediately.

Bowe crashed over for his second try, again from a push-over, and this time Mike Hawley tacked on the extras.

Then it was Hawley himself who strode through for a try, adding the conversion and following soon afterwards with a penalty.

Keswick had always played with spirit and endeavour and were rewarded with a third try, again a well-constructed affair with David Ray, McKenzie and Lance Lake all involved before Ireland went over and then added the conversion.

But once again Workington responded and Andrew Bowe crashed over from close range.

Keswick also have a tough-looking assignment tomorrow when they travel to Kirkby Lonsdale who will be in good heart after winning at Wigton.

The Greens slipped up in their home game against Kirkby Lonsdale, going down 22-20 at Lowmoor Road.

In the Cumbria League Netherhall went to Moresby and destroyed the home team 41-3 with a powerful performance.

Apart from the first 10 minutes when Kyle McCurrie kicked a penalty to give Moresby the lead they were never in the game.

Lacking experience and with only one recognised prop in stalwart Stephen Kellett, Moresby were up against it as Netherhall scrummaged well throughout.

On 15 minutes Paul Atkinson put in a cross kick and the speedy Carl Bell beat the defenders to score a try which Atkinson converted.

The visitors’ forwards were well on top and good runs by Ryan Robertson and Mike Fagan drove the defenders back into their own 22.

The tenacious Liam Thomason picked up and drove for the line but was pulled down just short. However, Jonathan Burnyeat carried on powering his way through two defenders to score a try and again Atkinson put over the conversion.

Indiscipline by the home team caused them to concede a penalty which Atkinson converted to give Netherhall a 17-3 advantage at half-time.

When Netherhall played down the slope they soon scored another try when Matty Todd, having a good game at number eight, picked up at the base of the scrum and raced blind to score.

More pressure from the visitors’ pack once again saw Robertson make a good 20 metres which drove them into the home 22. Fagan came on a crash ball and smashed through three defenders to score. Atkinson put over the conversion.

Netherhall’s young 17-year-old second row Dan Fisher won more good lineout ball and the visitors’ backs spun the ball wide. Mark Orchard, coming in off his wing, brushed off two defenders before cutting inside but was caught by the Moresby back row. Then his power and strength forced them back and he scored an excellent try which Atkinson converted.

In the last few minutes Fagan took a ball from Thomason, who had made more good yards and raced through the defence to score.

St Benedict’s continued their good form when they won 39-3 at Cockermouth.

In one of the shortest appearances of the season Saints’ lost player-coach Ian McQuire after only 20 seconds with a hamstring injury and he was replaced by Stuart Wilson, who was later sent to the sin-bin.

Even so they had the tonic of a try on five minutes when Carl Hiddleston ran through from deep to score and then add the conversion himself.

Cockermouth’s only score came on 13 minutes when Ross Maguire kicked a penalty. But they competed well, showing a lot of spirit, and were still battling strongly at the finish.

The form book was torn up at Gosforth Greengarth where the home side lost their unbeaten record, going down 33-22 to Workington Steelers – who were winning their first game of the season.

The Steelers made a flying start with a try inside two minutes. Tom Doran nailed the home full-back under a high ball and John McCrickard went over for an unconverted try.

Gosforth Greengarth came back strongly and worked a nice try down the blind-side from a scrum, with Paul Dickinson getting over in the corner to equalise.

On seven minutes a clever cross kick from Carl Bates saw Andrew Mitchell scampering over for a try which McCrickard converted.

Greengarth then scored two unconverted tries through Darren Lingham and Robin Sparshott to lead 5-12 but just before the interval Workington regained the lead with penalties from McCrickard and Bates.

Soon after the restart Lingham scored his second try of the game and with Sparshott converting, the home side were ahead again at 22-18.

Back came Workington with another Bates penalty and then, after a tactical switch by coach Derek Milligan, the Steelers came through to win it.

Bates sent McCrickard in for a try, which most home supporters and players thought was from a forward pass, but there was nothing controversial about the try which clinched it.

Paul Monkhouse fielded a ball and then ran across the field before straightening and skittled defenders on a rampaging run to the line for a fine try.

Both teams had scored four tries but Workington’s kicking and the heavy penalty count against Greengarth proved the deciding factor.

Wigton Wanderers only had a Johnny Proudlock penalty to show for their efforts in a 49-3 defeat at Egremont while Aspatria Eagles did not travel to Millom.

Fixtures – North Two East: Old Crossleyans v Aspatria, Penrith v Billingham.

North Lancs Cumbria: Kirkby Lonsdale v Keswick, Upper Eden v Wigton, Vale of Lune v Workington.

Cumbria League: Aspatria Eagles v St Benedicts, Greengarth v Netherhall, Millom v Moresby, Whitehaven v Cockermouth, Wigton Wanderers v Creighton, Workington Steelers v Egremont.